HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) — The state’s largest 2nd Amendment rights group announced it is backing Republican Tom Foley in the race for governor of Connecticut.

The Connecticut Citizens Defense League made the announcement on its blog Friday morning. It likely puts the group’s 15,000 plus members in Foley’s column for the fall election.

In making its endorsement the group’s executive board said:

“Governor Dannel Malloy has a proven track record of supporting anti-rights legislation and has vilified and ostracized Connecticut gun owners throughout his term. It is time for him to be to be replaced. We strongly believe that the team of Tom Foley and Heather Somers will take Connecticut in a new direction that is so desperately needed.”

The group is also endorsing all Republicans for the statewide offices of attorney general, secretary of the state, and in all five U.S. House of Representatives races.

“When it comes to repealing Connecticut’s smart, strict gun control law, Tom Foley would stand with the CCDL to repeal it. Just this week, Mr. Foley said he would sign a repeal of the law and even said he wouldn’t enforce parts of the law to keep dangerous weapons out of Connecticut’s communities. It’s clear that Tom Foley and the CCDL would stand together to take us backward on our smart gun law.”